Variable splicing means for knitting machines



Aug, 1, 1933. F, RPAGE 1,920,879

INVENTOR` FRANK R. PAGE BY HIS ATTORNEYS Aug l, 1933. F. R. PAGE 1,920,879

VARIABLE SPLIClNG MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 "FHA:

INVENTOR FRANK R. PAGE BY HIS ATTQRNEYS Aug. 1, 1933. F. R. PAGE VARIABLE SPLICING MENS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 24, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR FRANK R. PAGE sv ms ATTORNEYS Aug. l, 1933. F. R. PAGE 1,920,879

VARIABLE SPLIGING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 24, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR FRANK R. PAGE BY HIS ATTORNEYS MMM Patented Aug. 1, 1933 Wittmann srLiorNe MEANS ron nNi'r'riNG MACHINES Y Frank lit. Page, Brooklyn, N. Y., assigner to Scott & Williams, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a

Corporation of Massachusetts Application December 24, 1931. Serial No. 583,192

17 Claims. (Cl. 66-133) This invention relates to knitting machines and more particularly to knitting machines employing splicing yarns and itis an object of 'this invention to provide an improved knitting machine of 'the type described having the means slackening the stitches of the reinforced fabric controlled with the splicing yarn finger. It is also an object of this invention to provide a common operating means for the splicing yarn finger and sinker operating means which will operate the sinker operating means subsequently to the splicing yarn finger to coordinate the slackening of the stitches with the reinforcing of the fabric. It is also an object of this invention to provide means operated by the machine dial spindle for operating the splicing yarn finger and the sinker operating. cam for splices of different lengths and to provide a means for selecting the operating means on the dial spindle to vary the feeding of the splicing yarn and operation of the sinkers in accordance with the length of splice desired.

In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the head of a circular knitting machine constructed in accordance with this invention, the parts being shown in splicing position;

Fig. 2 is a View in section showing the relation of the push-rods for controlling the splicing yarn linger and sinker slackening cam to the cams on the main drum while the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section through the dial spindle showing in plan view a splicing cam mounted on the dial spindle and a push rod operated thereby in a position corresponding to the position of the parts in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial `top plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the machine head showing in elevation the positions of various parts shown in Fig. 1 when the splicing yarn 45 finger is shifted to an inoperative position by a push rod operated from the main pattern drum;

Fig. 6 is a View showing in elevation the positions of the push rod and the cam on the main drum while the parts are positioned as in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing the positions of the parts as the splicing yarn iinger is moved to inoperative position by the splicing cam on the dial spindle;

Fig. 8 is aview similar to Fig. 3 showing the positionsr of the splicing cam and push rod oper- .controlling the operation of the sinkers forA ated thereby when the parts are positioned as in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of a segment of the sinker cam ring showing the sinker slackening cam and its operating cam in operative position;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing in full lines the positions of the parts when the splicing yarn finger is raised-,by the movement of the splicing cam to the position shown in Fig. llrand showing in dotted lines the position to which those Aparts vare moved by the movement of the splicing cam to the position shown. in Fig. l2 while the sinker slackening cam operating lever and cam remain in the positions shown in solid lines;

Fig. 11 is a plan view showing the position of the splicing cam while the parts are in the positions shown in solid lines in Fig. l0;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing the position of the splicing cam while the splicing yarn finger is in the dotted line'positionl of Fig. 10; i

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the sinker slackening cam and its operating camin inoperative positions;

Fig. 14 is a ldiagrammatic view of a stocking produced by a inachine'constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view showing the parts shifted for operation by a cam designed to produce a splice of different width; and

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the positions of the push rod and main drum cam While the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 15.

In the drawings the invention is shown in connection with a Scott 8a Williams circular knitting machine of the type shown in the patent to Robert W. Scott, No. 1,282,958 issued October 29, 1918, such parts only cf the machine as are necessary for the illustration of the invention being shown. As shown in the drawings there is a bed plate B supporting a needle cylinder 260 which carries needles N and the usual outer sinker ring 295. Mounted upon the outer sinker ring 295 the sinker cam cap 300 having the usual abutments, not shown, which engage with a support for the latch guard ring and limit the movements of the sinker cam cap 300. Pivotally mounted on the post 401 is the usual latch guard ring 550 having a support, not shown, opposite the post 401 and carrying a bracket l5 in which is rotatably mounted a spindie d which supports and drives the usual dial .7.01 The plunger 28 is operated through the engage- D for the dial needles. The spindle d is driven through a gear g1 fixed on the upper end thereof and which meshes with a gear g2 mounted upon a shaft g driven by a suitable means, not shown, such as the means shown in the Patent No. 1,282,958 mentioned.

A pin 20 mounted in a post 22 carried by ring 550 pivotally supports a splicing yarn ringer F having an angular extension f carrying an adjustable eccentric 24. Also mounted on pin 22 is a lever 26 having three angularly disposed arms and pivotal-1y mounted at the outer end of arm 27 thereof is plunger 28 which extends downwardly through a slot in the outwardly projecting portionof a bracket 31 secured to the latch guard ring 556. Attached to the plunger 28 -is :a spring 36 which extends through the opening in the bracket 31 and serves to yieldingly retain the plunger 28 in adjusted position. The lower end of the plunger 28 is tapered to `form a cam surface 32 which cooperates with the sinker operating `cam 366 'pivotally mounted in thesinker cam cap 300.

The arm 38 of the lever 26 is forked at its outer end to form spaced projections adapted to be engaged by an angular nger or projection 40 carried by a rod 42 and yextending between the projections on the arm 38. The rod 42 is slidably mounted in openings in the gear B which 'covers the gears g1, gland inthe yarn guide plate 44 mounted upon the post 22 with the inner rend of the rod 42 arranged to be placed in operative relation to either of the cams 46 and 48 mounted on the dial spindle d. '-*The outer end of the rod 42 is operatively disposed with respect to the eccentric 24 on the extension f of the splicing yarn guide F. A spring 50 having one end secured to the rod 42vand its opposite end attached to the gear housing B tends tohold the inner end of Vthe rod 42 vin engagement with one of the cams 46 and 48. Pivotaliy mounted upon the gear housing Bl is a lever 52 having at one end a pin 54 engaging in a slot 55 in the rod 42 and connected at its other end by an adjustable link` 56 to the shear lever 611. As shown, the shear lever 611 is part of the operating means for the -cutter and clamping mechanism 60 to which it is connected by alink 62. The lever 4611 is pivotally mounted on a lug 59 carried by the latch guard ring 556 and is operated by push rod 462 from cams 561 on the main drum r120.

The arm 66 of the lever 26 is provided with a pin 68 positioned so as to be engaged by the eX- tension f of the splicing yarn nger F when lthe yarn ringer F is raised by push rod 466 to an inoperative position as Vshown in Figure 5 so that the lever 26 is operated to raise the plunger 28 to an inoperative position with the yarn nger F. The push rod 466 is operated by cams 562 on the main drum 120.

The cam 46 which is typical of the cams 46 and 48 is provided with a surface portion a of short radius which permits the rod 42 to be retracted by the spring 50 to the position shown in Figure l, the splicing yarn linger E'y to he lowered into operative position to feed yarn to the needles 4by the usual lowering spring fk ment of the linger 40 kon the rod 42 with a projection on the arm 38 of the lever 26 to bring the cam portion 32 of the plunger 28 into vengagement with the cam 366 and shift the cam 306 to the position shown in Fig. 9 in which the cam pivotaily 306 enters the groove 365 of the sinker cam cap 300 and engages the sinkers S causing the movement of the sinkers toward the needle circle to be advanced, thus slaokening the stitches carried thereby as shown in the patent to Scott, No. 1,189,220 issued June 27, 1916. As the cam 46 is rotated counterclockwise, as shown in Figure 3, the inclined portion c of the cam engages the rod 42 forcing the rod outwardly. The rod 42 in its movement outwardly first engages the eccentric 24 lon the extension j of the splicing yarn'nger F and raises the linger F towards its inoperative position and as the rotation of the cam V46 continues the outward movement of the rod42, the projection 40 on the rod 42 engages with -a projection on the arm 38 of the lever 26, raising the plunger 28 Yand disengaging the cam portion 32 thereof from the cam 306 in the sinker cam cap, thus returning the operation of the sinkers to the usual point on the needle circle. Further rotation of the cam 4Gwith the circular portion e of the cam in engagement with the rod 42 holds the splicing yarn finger F in an inoperative position and the cam portion 32 of the plunger 28 disengaged'from the sinker cam 366 as shown in 'solid lines in Fig, 10. As the cam 46 continues to rotate the portion h of the cam ,is presented to the rod 42 permitting the rod 42 to be moved to the right, as shown in Figure 1, by the spring 50 and permitting the splicing yarn ringer F to be moved by its operating spring f1 to the operative position as shown in dotted lines in 'Figure 10. In this position of the cam 46, however, the projection 40 on the rod 42 does not engage-with the projections on the arm 38 on the lever 26 and the spring 30 on the plunger 28 holds the vlever 26 and plunger` 28 in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 10, keeping the cam portion 32 of the plunger 28 out of engagement with 'the sinker cam 306. Further movement of the cam 46 in the same direction brings the circular portion a of the cani to the rod 42 permitting the 'rod 42 to be shifted to the right in Figure 1 by the spring l56 and causing the finger 40 on the rod '42 to engage With Va projection on the ari-m88 vof the lever 26, operating the lever 26 to lower the plunger 28 and bring the cam portion 32 thereof into engagement with the sinker cam 306, The nger I40 on the rod 42 and the projections on Vthe arm :38 of the lever 26, provide a lost motion connection between the rod 4Z-and the lever 26 which causes the operation of the sinker cam 306 after the operation of the splicing yarn inger F lboth in the raising and the lowering of the yain finger "-F. This delay in the operation of the plunger 28 is provided because of furnishing the splicing yarn to the needles in advance of the knocking-over point where the cam 366 is placed and permits of coordinating the movement to the knocking-overpoint of the needles to which the splicing yarn has been 'fed with the operation of the sinkers by the .cam 306.

The cams 46 and 48 Yare generally similar in shape but Yare provided with surfaces .a and e of different lengths thereby permitting the splicing yarn finger F and the cam l306 to remain in operative positions 'for `different lengths of time in order that splices of dierent widths may be made.

In order that the rod 42 may be shifted from one cam to the `other the lever 611 which operates the clamp and cutter mechanism is operated from the main drum 126 through cam 501 and push rod 462 to draw down the link 56 and raise the end of the lever 52 connectedA to the rod 42 thus shifting the inner end of the rod 42 from its position in line with the lower cam 46 as shown in Figure 1 to a position in line with the upper cam 48xas shown in Figure 15.

While this shifting of the cam is shown effected by the clamp and cutter mechanism itf Will be understood that other suitable mechanism. operating from the main drum may be provided but in the machine shown the splicing yarn finger F is not in operative position during the yarn changing and vice versa soV there is no interference with the operation of either the clamp and cutter mechanism or the splicing yarn finger F by the connection of the mechanisms for operation by the same push rod 462 and shear lever 611.

In the knitting of a stocking, as shown in Figure 14, the splicing yarn nger F is held in the inoperative position, as shown in Figure 5, by the push rod 460 during the knitting of the welt and the leg L with the extension f of the splicing yarn finger F engaging the pin 68 on the arm 66 of the lever 26 and holding the arm 27 and the plunger 28 raised with the cam portion 32 of the plunger clear of the sinker cam 306. Cam 306 will be in its outer or inoperative position Where it clears the groove in the sinker cam cap as shown in Fig. 13. In this position of the lever 26 arm 38 engages the nger 40 of the rod 42 and holds the inner end of the rod 42 clear of the cams 46 and 48 on the dial spindle d. At the beginning of the high splice H the main drum is stepped forward removing the vcani thereon from beneath the push rod 460 and permitting the push rod to drop to the surface of the main drum and the splicing yarn iinger F and the lever 26 to return to the control by the cams 46 and 48 on the dial spindle d.

In the knitting of the stocking shown the cam 46 giving the shorter splice will be in use during the knitting of the high splice I-I and the major 'Y portion of the sole S of the stocking. At the portion of the Vsole indicated by the line 3-3 oi Fig. 14 the Width of the sole portion is increased and at this point the main drum 120 is stepped forward to engage the cam 501 with the push rod `462 operating the shear lever 611, link 56 and lever 52 to raise the rod 42 to the position shown in Figure `15 in which the rod 42 is operated by the cam 48 to give the longer splice desired at this point. While a particular arrangement of the cams on the dial spindle has been shown it Will be understood that this arrangement may be varied to obtain a desired arrangement of the Widths of the reinforced fabric in the high splice and sole.

I claim- 1. In a knitting machine, a sinker operating cam, means for operating said cam to active and inactive positions during each of a number of successive courses and a splicing yarn iinger op- A erated by said cam operating means upon each operation thereof.

2. In a knitting machine, a sinker operating cam, means for operating said cam to active and inactive positions during each of a number of successive courses and a splicing yarn finger operated by said cam operating means upon each operation thereof in advance of the operation of said cam.

3. In a knitting machine, a sinker operating l cam, a dial spindle, means for operating said cam from said spindle and a splicing yarn ringer operated by said cam operating means.

4. In a knitting machine, a sinker operating cam, a dial spindle and means for operating said cam from said spindle. 1

5. In a knittingY machine, `a splicing yarn iinger, a dial spindle and means for operating said ringer from said spindle.

6. In a knitting machine, a sinker operating cam, a splicing yarn iinger, .means operating said cam and yarn finger to active and inactive positions during each of a number of successive courses and means to shift said yarn finger to an inoperative position and render said cam operating means inoperative.

7.4In a knitting machine, a sinker operating cam, a splicing yarn finger, means operating said cam to active and inactive positions during a number of successive courses and operatively connected to said yarn finger and means for holding said yarn finger in an inoperative position, said yarn finger engaging said cam operating means and holding said cam operating means inoperative while said yarn finger is held inoperative.

8. In a knitting machine, a sinker operating cam, a dial spindle, means for operating said cam from said spindle and a splicing yarn finger operated by said cam operating means in advance of the operation of said cam.

-9. In a knitting machine, a splicing yarn iinger, a dial spindle, cams operated by said dial spindle,- means for operating said yarn finger by one of said cams to yarn feeding position and means selecting the yarn riinger operating cam.

10. In a knitting machine, a splicing yarn ringer, a dial spindle, means operated by said spindle for placing said yarn finger in feeding position for a predetermined period in a course and means for changing the dWell of said yarn finger in feeding position.

11. In a knitting machine, a dial spindle, a sinker operating cam, means for operating said cam from said spindle, said means placing said cam in operative position for al predetermined period in a course and means for changing the period for Which said operating means places said cam in operative position in a course.

12. In a knitting machine, a splicing yarn iinger, a dial spindle, means operatively connecting said yarn finger and spindle for placing said yarn finger in operative position comprising a plurality of cams operated by said spindle and operative to place said yarn iinger in operative position for diiferent periods of time and mechanism operative to Vshift the yarn nger connection from one to another of said spindle operated cams.

13. In a knitting machine, a sinker operating cam, a dial spindle, cams operated by said spindle, means for operating said sinker operating cam from said spindle operated cams, a splicing yarn finger operated by said cam I operating means and means operative to shift cam operating means from one to another of said spindle operated cams.

14. In a knitting machine, a sinker operating cam, a dial spindle, cams operated by said spindle, means for operating said sinker operating cam operated by one of said spindle operated cams, a splicing yarn finger operated by said means to operative position in advance of the operation of said sinker operating cam, said means holding said yarn finger and sinker operating cam in operative positions for predetermined periods and means operative to shift said foam operating means .from one nto kanother of fsaid :spindle operated foams to :change the periods Lof `said sinker -cazm :and yarn finger in operative position. f'

15. In a .knitting machine, a sinker operating cam, means for operating said cam to active .and inactive positions during each of a number of successive courses, Aand a splicing yarn finger operated by said Acam operating vmeans upon each operation thereof, said cam operating means 4having a lost motion connection therein for causingvoperation of said splicing -yarn -nger in .advance of the operation of Y.sa-id cam.

16. In a knitting machine, a dial spindle, Vva sinker operating cam, `a splicing yarn finger,

means for operating said cam and yarn finger from said spindle to place ysaid cam and. yarn nger in operative positions for vpredetermined periods in a course and means for changing the period for which said cam and yarn ngei' are placed in operative positions in a course.

17. vIn a knitting machine, a sinker operating cam,V a splicing yarn finger, and means for operating said cam and yarn finger to active and inactive positions during each of a number of successive courses, said operating means having a 10st motion connection therein for causing operation of said cam and yarn nger at diierent times.

FRANK R. PAGE. 

